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Death by Talons

Did an Owl "Murder" Kathleen Peterson?

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Death by Talons

By: Tiddy Smith
Narrated by: Tom Lennon
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About this listen

An outrageous theory for murder!

On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, NC home. Her scalp was laced with deep incisions, and her blood was strewn from outside to inside the house.

The sinister truth of that night turned her murder into North Carolina's most enigmatic criminal case, capturing media attention across the globe.

Police zeroed in on Kathleen’s husband, Michael Peterson, and charged him with murder.

But Was It The Truth?

A neighbor, Larry Pollard, came up with an alternative “killer”: He claimed an owl had attacked Kathleen outside her house. He said it sliced her scalp with its fierce talons and caused her to run inside, collapsing at the stairwell, and bleeding to death.

When the media heard about his theory, Larry was mocked. And Michael was convicted.

Now, 20 years later, author Tiddy Smith explores Pollard’s theory and questions whether law enforcement ignored, or even hid, evidence to convict Michael Peterson. And was an owl, in fact, the real killer?

©2023 Tiddy Smith (P)2023 WildBlue Press Americas Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions Crime Murder Organized Crime State & Local True Crime United States

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Wonderful narration from Tom Lennon, he brings the pace, angst and suspense.


When Kathleen Peterson was found murdered in December 2001. Her body was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in home, with her head was covered in deep incisions.
The charged her husband with murder, but Larry Pollard, their neighbour states that the true killer, had natural talons, a owl. .
But Michael is convicted.

Twenty years later, author Tiddy Smith takes a look into the owl theory. Was evidence ignored. Who is the killer.

talon

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It was about time somebody properly examined this and Smith has done a brilliant job of teasing out things that were actually always there but which nobody had really looked for. A compelling listen.

An impressive investigation

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